Walker Island (Southern Tasmania)
Walker Island is an island located close to the south-western coast of Tasmania, Australia. The 15-hectare (0.058 sq mi) island is part of the Maatsuyker Islands Group, and comprise part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Site.[1][2]
 Detailed map of Maatsuyker Island, showing Walker Island to the north and Needle Rocks to the south | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | South West Tasmania |
| Coordinates | 43°37′48″S 146°16′12″E |
| Archipelago | Maatsuyker Islands Group |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Southern Ocean |
| Area | 15 ha (37 acres)[1] |
| Administration | |
Australia | |
| State | Tasmania |
| Region | South West |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Unpopulated |
Fauna
Walker Island is part of the Maatsuyker Island Group Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds.[3] Recorded breeding seabird and wader species are the little penguin (2-300 pairs), short-tailed shearwater (146,000 pairs), fairy prion (3,000 pairs), common diving-petrel (500 pairs), silver gull and sooty oystercatcher. The island is a haul-out site for the Australian fur seal and an occasional breeding site for the New Zealand fur seal. The Tasmanian tree skink is present.[2]
References
- "Small Southern Islands Conservation Management Statement 2002" (PDF). Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 August 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
- Brothers, Nigel; Pemberton, David; Pryor, Helen; & Halley, Vanessa. (2001). Tasmania’s Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. ISBN 0-7246-4816-X
- BirdLife International. (2011). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Maatsuyker Island Group. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 09/08/2011.
